After a blistering month of boxing action, The Sportsman will be making some adjustments to the way we conduct our Power Rankings. Seeing the women tear it up at the O2 Arena has led us to finally pull the trigger on a move we have long-debated at the Fortress of Sportitude. The Boxing Power Rankings will now include both male and female fighters.
We debated separate lists but it was decided that these are all boxers and thus their qualities and merits should be treated equally. As always, the Power Rankings are not a pound-for-pound list. Everyone does those. This list is based on performance, reputation, influence and momentum.
READ MORE:
WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is not ranked as he has not fought since his “retirement” in the wake of his April victory over Dillian Whyte. Once he has fought again, which he plans to do against Derek Chisora in December, he will become eligible for the Power Rankings again.
10. Alycia Baumgardner
The newly-unified super featherweight champion won an exhilarating co-main event at the O2 Arena against WBO, IBF and The Ring titleist Mikaela Mayer. The decision was controversial, as was Baumgardner’s assertion that there will be no rematch. But ‘The Bomb’ performed well in holding up her end of an absorbing clash. Hopefully Baumgardner softens on the idea of a rematch, as the fight deserved one.
9. Deontay Wilder
‘The Bronze Bomber’ is back. A crushing first-round knockout of Robert Helenius put the heavyweight division on notice. Wilder had seen his stock fall after back-to-back losses against Fury. But absence makes the heart grow fonder and fans were thrilled by his devastating return. Fights with Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk have been discussed, all of which would be electric.
8. Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez
The Mexican superstar got back in the win column in September with a unanimous decision win over Gennady Golovkin. ‘GGG’ is not the fighter he once was, but it was still a creditable performance from ‘Canelo’. The questions Dmitry Bivol asked him during his points win over Alvarez in May are still yet to be answered, however.
7. Jermell Charlo
The undisputed light middleweight champion fights unbeaten Tim Tsyzu in January. It is a fight he is expected to win, especially given Tsyzu’s struggles with fringe contender Terrell Gausha last time out. The Australian had to climb off the canvas to win that one. It seems likely Charlo will reintroduce Tsyzu to the ring mat when they square off next year.
6. Naoya Inoue
What’s that coming over the hill? Is it ‘Kaibutsu’? Is it ‘The Monster’? Inoue is perhaps the most devastating pound-for-pound puncher in the world. He aims those dangerous fists at Britain’s WBO bantamweight champion Paul Butler next. Inoue’s WBC, WBA and IBF straps will also be on the line in this undisputed showdown. The Ellesmere Port man will have his work cut out against the unbeaten knockout artist when they meet in Tokyo.
5. Katie Taylor
The Irish icon returns to the ring this weekend to take on former two-time interim champion Karen Carabajal. A victory will cap off an incredible year for the undisputed lightweight champion. Taylor beat Amanda Serrano in one of the fights of the year in April. It was the biggest women’s fight in history, selling out Madison Square Garden in the process. ‘The Bray Bomber’ is a true superstar of the sport.
4. Devin Haney
‘The Dream’ repeated the trick against George Kambosos Jr, going back to Australia to defend the undisputed lightweight title he won in his previous bout with ‘Ferocious’. It was arguably an even finer performance this time given the fact Kambosos fought with more urgency and still found himself overwhelmed. The 135lb division is Haney’s oyster now.
3. Dmitry Bivol
After shocking the world against ‘Canelo’, Bivol now gets the chance to show us his next trick. The ‘GGG’ rematch ruled out an immediate return, but Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez is one of the best opponents out there for the WBA light heavyweight champion. This clash of the unbeatens has no shortage of needle between the pair and we could be in for a late contender for fight of the year.
2. Oleksandr Usyk
The stately world heavyweight champion is taking the rest of the year out after repeating his breakout win over Anthony Joshua. Usyk is reportedly in talks with WBC equivalent Tyson Fury over a fight next year. Given Fury has retired, un-retired, called out ‘AJ’, withdrawn from negotiations with ‘AJ’, called out 9-12 Central Area champion Chris Healey and landed on a fight with Chisora in the last six months; we’ll believe it when we see it.
1. Claressa Shields
‘The GWOAT’ sits atop our Power Rankings after an incredible performance at the O2 to defeat long-time rival Savannah Marshall. With many insiders picking against her, given Marshall’s devastating power, the new undisputed middleweight shone brightly in London. Shields was almost punch-perfect as she offered up a performance that recalled the studious dominance of Floyd Mayweather. A deserving leader for our first all-in Power Rankings.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
